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Yeast Colony Embedding Method
Published on: March 22, 2011
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Gut yeast communities in Larus michahellis from various breeding colonies
Mohammed Hashim Al-Yasiri1, Anne-Cécile Normand2, Renaud Piarroux1,2
1Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, IRBA, IP-TPT, Marseille, France.
Medical Mycology
|October 6, 2016
Summary
The gut yeast of yellow-legged gulls contains antibiotic-resistant fungi, including human pathogens. These birds may spread drug-resistant yeasts, posing a potential public health risk.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Mycology
- Public health
Background:
- Antibiotic-resistant Enterobacteriaceae have been identified in yellow-legged gulls.
- The gut mycobiota of these birds remains largely undescribed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the gut yeast communities in yellow-legged gulls.
- To investigate the presence of antifungal resistance and potential public health implications.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of yeast communities from gull fecal samples across five breeding colonies.
- Culture-based methods, including itraconazole-supplemented media.
- Estimation of yeast species richness, abundance, and diversity.
Main Results:
- Seventeen distinct yeast species were identified, with Candida krusei, Galactomyces geotrichum, C. glabrata, C. albicans, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae being most frequent.
- Gut yeast diversity was higher in gulls from less urbanized colonies.
- Antifungal resistance was detected in the five most common yeast species, including human pathogens like C. albicans and C. glabrata.
Conclusions:
- Yellow-legged gulls harbor antifungal-resistant yeasts, including human pathogens.
- Synanthropic gull colonies show increased proportions of human-associated yeasts.
- These birds may act as reservoirs and disseminators of drug-resistant yeasts, warranting further public health impact assessment.
